Overview of Plist Files

Property List (plist) files are structured text files used widely in macOS for storing user preferences, configuration settings, and information about bundles and applications. These files, which are XML documents, offer a standardized way for applications to read and write settings.

For our application, the critical use of plist files is to configure the SynchronizeURL setting, pointing the application to the correct sync API for enterprise use.

Plist File Structure

Here is an example of a plist file that sets the SynchronizeURL:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

    <key>SynchronizeURL</key>

    <string>https://Your.syncURL.wellnomics.com</string>

</dict>

</plist>

If you do not know your Sync API URL Wellnomics support will be happy to assist you in providing your organization with a completed Plist. 

Deployment Locations

Our application supports reading the plist file from two locations:

User-Level Configuration: ~/Library/Application Support/Wellnomics/

This path targets a specific user's library folder, allowing personalized application settings. Ideal for single-user setups or when different users on the same machine require different settings.

System-Level Configuration: /Library/Application Support/Wellnomics/

This path applies settings for all users on the machine. It's preferred for enterprise deployments where a uniform configuration is necessary across all user accounts.

Pushing Plist Files to Macs

Enterprise customers must push the plist file to the appropriate directory, depending on whether they wish to apply settings at the user or system level.

To automate this process, IT administrators can use a variety of methods, such as:

MDM (Mobile Device Management) solutions: For widespread deployment and management of plist files across macOS devices within the enterprise.

Scripted Deployment: Writing custom scripts to copy the plist files to the correct location on each machine.

Permissions and Security

Ensure that the plist file has appropriate permissions to prevent unauthorized modifications. For system-level deployment, administrative privileges are required to write to /Library/Application Support/Wellnomics/.